Southern California is a great place to hold training camp. Just ask the Los Angeles Rams, who have called SoCal home for the last eight years. It’s why the Dallas Cowboys head to Oxnard each summer for their training camp, and it’s why the New Orleans Saints and Las Vegas Raiders are invading sunny California this year, too.
Both the Saints and Raiders are holding their camps in Southern California this summer but there are some caveats, courtesy of the Rams. According to ESPN, the Rams and Chargers invoked an NFL rule that allows them to block other teams from marketing their training camp locally in their area. Therefore, the Raiders can’t welcome fans at their Costa Mesa location, nor can the Saints at UC Irvine – the former home of Rams training camp.
No billboards. No newspaper ads or radio commercials. Las Vegas media can cover camp, but no invites for L.A. or Orange County media. Nor will practices be open to fans, though some VIPs, select season-ticket holders, sponsors and invited guests will be allowed into the Jack Hammett Sports Complex, about 40 miles south of SoFi Stadium.
In that same report from ESPN’s Paul Gutierrez, he notes that the Rams and Chargers weren’t happy about the Raiders coming to Southern California and will impose the restrictions that are available to them.
But league sources acknowledged the Raiders, with their popularity, setting up shop where two other teams do their business, did not go over well with either the Rams or Chargers. Even as there was a “more the merrier” vibe for camp, a league source said. “That’s the upside,” the source added, “more teams.”
It makes sense that the NFL would allow teams to block outside clubs from marketing their camps locally. And it’s not as if the Saints and Raiders didn’t know about the restrictions prior to setting up camp in California. Perhaps they were just hoping the Rams and Chargers would let it slide.
It’s unfortunate for fans of the Raiders and Saints, who will not be able to attend practices this summer, but the teams knew the rules – or at least they should have.